diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/SparkConf.scala b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/SparkConf.scala
index 13f0bff7ee507..b4f321ec99e78 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/SparkConf.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/SparkConf.scala
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ class SparkConf(loadDefaults: Boolean) extends Cloneable with Logging {
     // Validate spark.executor.extraJavaOptions
     settings.get(executorOptsKey).map { javaOpts =>
       if (javaOpts.contains("-Dspark")) {
-        val msg = s"$executorOptsKey is not allowed to set Spark options (was '$javaOpts)'. " +
+        val msg = s"$executorOptsKey is not allowed to set Spark options (was '$javaOpts'). " +
           "Set them directly on a SparkConf or in a properties file when using ./bin/spark-submit."
         throw new Exception(msg)
       }